Devotionals

Jesus tells us that the greatest apologetic, or defense, for the Christian faith is love: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). He does not commend an ...Read More

Augustine of Hippo writes, “The rule of love is that one should wish his friend to have all the good things he wants to have himself and should not wish the evils to befall his friend which he wishes to ...Read More

As disciples of Christ, we must define love by what the Lord has revealed and not by what happens to feel right to us at the moment. Our hearts can deceive us, but God’s Word teaches us only the truth. ...Read More

The world does not always understand what is good, and sometimes it even calls good evil and evil good. Still, unbelievers often recognize what is right and true, and they definitely know when we do not practice what we preach. ...Read More

Because there were not many inns in the ancient world, hospitality was particularly necessary. That need continues today, even in countries where hotels and other lodging options are abundant. We should seek to show hospitality whenever we can, whether by ...Read More

Zeal for the Lord does not mean uncontrolled exuberance or a passion that is not in submission to what God has told us. We see this in Paul’s admonition that our zeal must “serve the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). We cannot ...Read More

Today we see a false understanding of love manifested most commonly in romantic relationships. Many people justify adultery by saying that they no longer love their spouse but love another person. People often justify homosexual relationships by saying, “As long ...Read More

Paul’s teaching on divine election throughout the rest of Romans 9 shows that he knew that it was impossible for God to reject him—an elect person—for the sake of the reprobate. However, Paul’s love as displayed in his asking to ...Read More

Many Christians will accept that nothing outside of ourselves can separate us from God’s love, but they live with the constant fear that they might jump out of the Lord’s saving hand. But we are a part of creation, and ...Read More

In Romans 9, Paul applies the election of the people of Israel to individual believers, telling us that those who are saved have been chosen from the foundation of the world. Divine election assures us of God’s love and that ...Read More